Ivanova, Milena. Did Perrin’s Experiments Convert Poincare to Scientific Realism?
2013, Hopos: The Journal of the International Society for the History of Philosophy of Science 3 (1):1-19.
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Added by: Chris Blake-Turner, Contributed by: Milena IvanovaAbstract: In this paper I argue that Poincare's acceptance of the atom does not indicate a shift from instrumentalism to scientific realism. I examine the implications of Poincare's acceptance of the existence of the atom for our current understanding of his philosophy of science. Specifically, how can we understand Poincare's acceptance of the atom in structural realist terms? I examine his 1912 paper carefully and suggest that it does not entail scientific realism in the sense of acceptance of the fundamental existence of atoms but rather, argues against fundamental entities. I argue that Poincare's paper motivates a non-fundamentalist view about the world, and that this is compatible with his structuralism.Comment: This is a stub entry. Please add your comments below to help us expand it
Senechal, Marjorie. Structures of Matter and Patterns in Science
1980, Schenkman Pub. Co.
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Added by: Viviane FairbankAbstract:
Inspired by the work and life of Dorothy Wrinch, 1894-1976. The proceedings of a symposium held at Smith College, Northampton, Massachusetts, September 28-30, 1977 and selected papers of Dorothy Wrinch, from the Sophia Smith Collection.Comment: This is an edited collection containing several papers related to the works of Dorothy Wrinch in philosophy, science, logic, and mathematics. Some selections could be made for a course focused on early 20th C philosophy of science and logic, for example.
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